Atomizer or liquid-fuel burner



Dec. 2 1,520,614

H. A. THOMPSON ATOMIZER OR LIQUID FUEL BURNER Filed March 1924 Sheets-Sheet 1 fnvenlor Dec. 1924- 1,520,614

H. A. THOMPSON ATOMIZER OR LIQUID FUEL BURNER Filed March 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 1924' 1,520,614

H. A. THOMPSON ATOMIZER OR LIQUID FUEL BURNER Filed March 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 w Imam?? #1 T/wJm Patented Dec. 23, 1924."

PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT ALEXANDER 'rnomrson, or MORPETH, ENGLAND.

A'IOMIZER OR LIQUID-FUEL BURNER.

Application ma march-1a, 1924. Serial No. 700,320.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HERBERT ALEXANDER THOMPSON, engineer, a subject ofthe King of Great Britain, of VVansbeck Ironworks,

Morpeth, in the county of Northumberland,\

England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Atomizers or Liquid-Fuel Burners, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to atomizers or liquid fuel burners of the well-known type wherein slots or apertures for the oil or liquid and steam or air are arranged adjacent to each other, so that the two streams of fluid meet at their outlets.

I am aware that atomizers and burners of this kind are already in use including the most simple form in which two pipes fastened together have their outlet ends 'flat tened out to form-thin slots oropenings.

The object of the present invention is to provide a new or improved construction of this type of atomizer or liquid fuel burner having amongst others the following advantages 1. Cheapness of construction. I

2. The parts can be all turned or machined by mechanical means such as lathes, I

Flgs. 1 to 8 one construction ofoil fuel shaping or milling machines which will ensure accuracy in the sizes of openings and the smoothness of passages and prevent the occurrence of rough surfaces which offer resistance to the flow of the oil.

3. A minimum number of parts.

4. Easy access for cleaning.

'5. Interchangeable standard parts which can be readily inserted to give larger or smaller openings according to the quantity of oil being burned.

6. Will avoid as far as -possible passages in the form of confined holes which are difficult to clean or clear of obstructions.

7 The parts cannot be wrongly assembled.

8. Parts exposed to the flame and likely to show signs of burning are readily detachable for renewal purposes.

In an atomizer or oil burner of the type referred to and according to the present invention the relatively inclined liquid or oil and air or steam passages are formed in a longitudinally split or divided plug seated in a corresponding seating in a body part and having one passage formed between the contiguous faces of the divided parts and the other in the outer face of the said plug. For example, the air or steam pas sage may be formed by a tapered roove in one of the contiguous faces of t e divided parts of the plug, the said groove being flared or opened out at its exit end whilst the oil passage may be formed by an oppositely tapered groove cut in the extenor of one member of the divided plug for a portion of the length thereof, the exit end of the said groove being of the greater depth and adapted to meet the exit of the air or steam groove whilst the near end of said groove is adapted to make communication with an inclined or lateral oil feed passage in the body part which is fitted with a regulating device such as aneedle valve.

The body part which carries the plug may be fitted at its rear end with a cover, the intenor of which forms an air chamber into which isled the air supply pipe under the control of a suitable cock, and the said cover or the air chamber are provided with means for exerting pressure on the end of the plug to keep the same in place.

The divided plug may be coned'and provided with a rim, lugs, or other devices at its rear end to facilitate its removal when required.

The accompanying drawings show in burner made in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 9 shows a modification.

Fig. 1 is a part sectional side elevation of the complete burner.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the plate which ]c3arries the burner viewed from the right of ig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the burner body and connections to a larger scale.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of Fig. 3. Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are details in perspective of the split coned plug shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a section showing a modification of the end cap and means for holding the divided plug member in position.

Fig. 10 is a part sectional side elevation showing a modified form of flame tube and supplementary air inlets.

The construction shown in Figs. 1 to 8 consists of a casting forming the burner body 1 on the top side of which'is arranged the self-cleaning oil-control needle-valve 2 which is maintained in an oiltight condition by a gland arrangement 3 such as usually employed. for valves. This needle-valve 2 may be independent of the body casting 1 but is preferably made integral with the same and has bosses or branches 6 and7 arranged on either side with a view to allowlng the oil supply to be led to either side as found most convenient. A cap or screwed, plug is provided as shown for closing the oil inlet, which is not in use. By this arrangement the burner can be used with right or left hand inlet pipes. 1

4, is the air supply 'valve which is shown as a Globe valve of ordinary construction for controlling the air supply to the burner. In this case the said valve 4 is shown as a separate memberscrewed into a boss orfacing, but if desired it may be made as of this clamping screw 9 is fixed in a loose or swivelling manner a bridge or stirrup 10 adapted to bearupon the end of the divided burner plug consisting of members 15 and 16 for the purpose of securely pressing the said divided plug into its seating.

Fig. 5 shows the two parts 15 and 16 of the plug in assembled form ready to fit into the body part as in Fig. 3. As shown the plug thus formedis preferably made of conical or tapered form so that the assembled parts may be ground into position as in the case of an ordinary cock plug to ensure perfect tightness and fitting. This arrangement also allows the perfect tightness and fitting of the parts to be main tained as they can be similarly dealt with at any future period after they have been in use. As shown in Figure 6 the top side of the part 15 has cut therein a groove 17 formed with an inclined base so as to be deeper at the outlet end. The said slot 17 can be easily and cheaply cut by means of a milling tool or planing machine whereby perfect accuracy and smooth surface finish is obtained.

As shown in Figs 7 and'8 the part 16 has the air passage 18 arranged ,on its fiat or top side. This passage 18 can be cut in the same way as the passage 17 and is preferably made towards the outlet end with the sides swept or cut away laterally to give a fan-shaped opening.

It will be noted that the parts 15 and. 16 are so made that when assembled they form the beforementioned conical plug, the inner end of which is formed with a circular flange or projection '26 which is provided for the purpose of allowing a suitable tool or instrument to be placed under the same The'part 15 of the plug is provided-with a stopper or dowel pin 25 or other such like fitting adaptedto engage with asuitable i slot or opening in the burner body 1 to ensure the arts 15 and 16 being correctly as: sembled 1n the body 1, as these two parts form one common coned plug for ease in machining and could otherwise be' assembled wrongly. The burner body 1 is provided with one or more lugs 27 for the purpose of securing the burner to the carrying plate 19, Figs. 1 and 2. These lugs 27 are so arranged that they do not obstruct the passage of the secondary air supply from the atmosphere or elsewhere to the ports'or openings 22.

The front plate 19 is shown of circular form, but if desired it can be made rectangular or'of any special design to suit" existing arrangements when replacing furnace doors. To the inside of this plate 19 is attached a flame tube 20 which is held to the plate 19 in any suitable manner such as by bolts 21 or studs and nuts. By arranging the flame tube in this manner it can be readily removed and replaced should the same burn out after the burner has been in use over a long period. This flame tube 20 serves as a final mixing chamber for the oil and air spray from the burner and for the secondary air admitted through the openings 22.

If desired means may be provided to control the secondary air su ply passing through the ports 22. Bolt ho es 23 are pro-- vided in the plate 19 and the supplementary lllll air holes 22 are formed in a raised boss 24' l which forms a facing for receiving the burner body 1.

Fig. 9 shows an alternative construction for the cover 8 wherein the securing screw 9 and the stirrup 10 of Fig. 3 are dispensedwith and in place of same a cylindrical member or extension 13 is arranged inside the cover and adapted to press upon the end of the plug members 15 and 16 and hold the same in place. Ports or openings 14 are provided in the cylindrical member 18 for the passage of the air. In this arrangement a lug 12 is arranged on the cover 8 to allow a movable tommy bar 11 to pass through the same, which bar is used for screwing up the cover 8 and part 13 in a tight manner. This allows a shorter tommy air heating space is enclosed through which air passes to said supplementary inlets.

Fig. 10 shows one such modified construction wherein supplementary air ports 22 are provided in the wall of the flame tube 20 around its circumference within and as close up to the door 19 as possible, a baffle plate 28 being attached toor mounted on the inside of the plate 19 to enclose a heating space 29, leading to the ports 22; suitable air inlets 30 are provided in the plate 19 towards the outer circumference of the heating space. By this modified construction under certain conditions heated air is drawn into the furnace through said heating space 29 and the air ports 22 in the flame tube. 1

'1 he improved oil fuel burner is operated as follows:

The oil pipe is led from the oil container or tank to either branch 6 or 7 on theoil control valve, and the steam or air supply is led to needle valve 4. The oil supply may have been preheated if desired to reduce its viscosity in the usual manner. The burner is then started in the following manner:-

The air or steam supply valve 4 is opened which allows the air or steam to pass through passage 5 into the small receiving space formed within the cover 8. The air then passes through the port or aperture 18 of the member 16 of the plug, the top side of this port 18 being formed by the under or flat side of the part 15. The air is therefore confined within a tapering aperture and passes throughout the length of thesame with increasing velocity towards the fan-shaped outlet.

The 011 control valve 2 is opened sufficiently to allow of the required amount of oil flowing on to the. inclined surface of the bottom of the slot 17 in the part 15. The oil flows down this inclined surface and is met by the current of air from port 18. By this means the oil is atomized and mixing with the air or steam supply passes from the conical outlet of the body 1 into the flame tube or mixing chamber 20. The passage of the atomized mixture of oil and air or oil and steam passing through this tube 20 induces a suction or vacuum towards the rear of the same thereby drawing in atmospheric or other secondary air through the openings 22.

The burner is lit by applying a light say in the form of a common torch to the atomized mixture which immediately ignites.

Full control is obtained of the output of the burner by regulating the oil inlet and the steam or air inlet to the respective passages. The parts 15 and 16 of the plug are arranged with suitable slots or passages to give a fairly wide range of consumption of oil per hour. but when it is desired to come. to a higher or lower range of fuel consumption than that given by the parts 15 and 16 then in use, other parts 15 and 16, but with larger or smaller slots 17 and 18, can quickly be substituted by simply removing the cap or cover 8 withdrawing the parts 15 and 16 then in use, and substituting other parts having larger or smaller apertures and replacing the cover.

It will be evident therefore that this gives great facility for operation and ensures that unskilled persons can quickly remove these parts and replace the same, as there are no small holding screws or thin plates to be damaged in carrying out'this operation.

It will also be evident from the construction of this burner that the oil and air poits after leaving the valves are so designed in the form of open slots or troughs that in the event of these becoming obstructed they can be readily cleaned and when the parts 15 and 16 are 're-assembled within the body the conical plug construction ensures absolute accuracy of fitting and also accuracy in the relation of the outlet slots for the oil and air to each other so that no skill is requiredin setting or adjusting these parts on assembling. This is highly desirable as these burners are intended particularly for use in small heating plants for domestic or heating boilers where attendants cannot be expected to have any great mechanical knowledge or appreciate the values of correct settings of parts, which have to be assembled in a carel'lll manner to obtain etticiency.

By regulating the air supply alone the flame can be altered to suit either heating or smelting conditions.

\Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An oil burner of the type referred to con'iprising the combination of a longitudinally divided plug having relatively inclined passages formed therein, one of said passages being formed between the contiguous faces of the divided members of the plug, a body part provided with a seating for said plug, and means for supplying fluids to the said relatively inclined passages in the plug.

2. An oil burner of the type referred to comprising the combination of a longitudinally divided cone plug having relatively inclined passages formed therein, one of said passages being formed between the contiguous faces of the divided members of the coned plug, a body part provided with a coned seating for said plug, and means for supplying fluids to the said relatively inclined passages in the coned plug.

3. An oil burner of the type referred to comprising the combination of a longitudinally divided plug having an air passage formed between its contiguous faces and an oil passage formed in its outer surface and chamber enclosing the rear end of comprising the combination of a longitudi-' nally divided plug having formed between its contiguous faces an air passage in the form of a tapered groove cut in one ofsaid faces and opened out laterally at its exit the said divided plug being also provided with an oil passage cut in its outer face and in the form of a groove with its base inclined towards the exit of the air passage, a body part through which the sa d plug passes and in which it is seated, said body having an oil supply passage communicatlng with the oil passage of the plug, a cover screwing onto the rear end of the body part and forming an air receiving chamber enclosing the rear end of the divided plug, an air supply passage leading to sald air receiving chamber and means for holding the divided plug in its seating.

5. An oil burner of the type referred to comprising the combination of, a longitudinally divided conedplug having formed between its contiguous faces an air passage in the form of a tapered groove cut in one of said faces and o ened out laterally at its exit, the said divided plug being also provided with an oil passage cut in its outer face and in the form of a groove with its base inclined towards the exit of the air passage, a body part through which the said plug passes and in which it is seated, said body having an oil supply passage communicating with the oil assage of the plug, a cover screwing onto t e rear end of the body part and forming an air receiviililg t e divided plug, an air supply assage leading to said air receivin chamber and means for holding the divi ed plug in its seating.

6. An oil burner of the type referred to comprising the combination of a longitudinally divided coned plug having formed between its contiguous faces an air passage in the form of a tapered groove cut in one of said faces and opened out laterally at its exit, the said divided plug being also provided with an oil passage cut in'its outer face and in the form of a groove with itsbase inclined towards the exit of the air passage, a body part throughwhich the said plug passes and in which it is seated, said body having an oil supply passage communicating with the oil passage of the plug, a cover screwing on to the rear end 0 the body part and forming an air receiving chamber enclosing the rear end of the divided plug, an air supply passage leading to said air receiving chamber and means interposed between the end of the divided plug and the cover for exerting pressure on the end of the plug and holding the same in its seating.

-7. An oil burner ofigthe type referred to comprising thecombination of a longitudinally divided coned plug having formed between its contiguous faces an air passage in the form of a tapered groove cut in. one of said faces and opened out laterally at its exit, the said divided plug being also provided with an oil passage out in its outer face and in the form of a groove with its base inclined towards the exit of the air passage, a body part through which the said lug passes and in which it is seated, said ody having an oil supply passa e communicating with the oil -passage of t e plug, a cover screwing onto the rear end of the body part and forming an .air receiving chamber enclosing the rear end of the divided plug, a spindle screwed through the cover and having external operating means, and a swivelling stirrup like member mounted on the inner end of the spindle and bearing upon the two members of the divided plug.

8. 11 oil burner of the type referred to comprising the combination of a longitudinally divided coned plug having formed between its contiguous faces an air passage in the form of a tapered groove out in one of said faces and 'o ened out laterall at its exit, the said divided plug being a so provided with an oil passage cut in its outer face and in the form of a groove with its base inclined towards the exit of the air passage, a body part through which the said plug passes and in which it is seated, said body having an oil supply passage communicating with the oil passage of the plug, an adjustable needle valve fitted to said oil passage in the body part and arranged for external operation, a cover screwing onto the rear end of the body part and forming an air receiving chamber enclosing the rear end of the divided plug, an air supply passage leading to said air receiving chamber and means for holding the divided plug in its seating.

9. An oil burner of the type referred to comprising the combination of a longitudinally divided coned plug having formed between its contiguous faces an air passage in the form of a tapered groove cut in one of said faces and o ened out laterally at its exit, the said divided plug being also provided with an oil passage cut in its outer face and in the form of a groove with its base inclined towards the exit of the air passage, a body part through which the said plug passes and in which it is seated, said body having an oil supply passage communicating with the oil passage of the plug, an adjustable needle valve fitted to said oil passage in the body part and arranged for no external operation, a cover screwing onto the rear end of the body part and forming an air receiving chamber enclosing the rear endof the divided plug, an air supply passage leading to said air receiving chamber and means interposed between the end of the divided plug and the cover for exerting pressure on the end of the plug and holding the same in its seating.

10. An oil burner of the type referred to comprising the combination of a longitudinally divided coned plug having formed between its contiguous faces an air passage in the form of a tapered groove cut in one of said faces and opened out laterally at its exit, the said divided plug being also provided with an oil passage cut in its outer face and in the form of a groove with its base inclined towards the exit of the air passage, a body part through which the said plug passes and in which it is seated, said body having an oil supply passage communicating with the oil passage of the plug, a cover screwing onto the rear end of the body part and forming. an air receiving chamber enclosing the rear end of the divided plug, means for holding the divided plug in its seating, a supporting plate hav- 7 7 ing an aperture through which the nozzle of the burner body rojects and a series of supplementary air inlets surrounding said aperture and opening around the said nozzle, and a flame tube mounted within the supporting plate and surrounding the nozzle of the burner.

HERBERT ALEXANDER THOMPSON. 

